The Boston Red Sox’s much-maligned rotation could get a boost in a matter of weeks, as the Boston Herald reports righthander Daisuke Matsuzaka will begin a minor league rehab assignment Monday.

Matsuzaka had Tommy John surgery last June but is making a quick recovery. Barring a setback, he could be ready to make his first start in the majors May 18.

“Daisuke feels really good,” manager Bobby Valentine told the newspaper. “The conversation with him is that he’s ready to start dealing with competition rather than rehabilitation.”

With a 6.09 ERA, the Red Sox rank ahead of only the Minnesota Twins (6.51 ERA) in the majors in rotation ERA.

Of course, Dice-K cannot be counted on as a rotation savior, especially given his 5.03 ERA from 2009-2011. And pitchers often struggle initially as they return from the procedure (see: St. Louis Cardinals ace Adam Wainwright and his 9.88 ERA in three starts this season).